2024 Innovative Practices Conference (IPC)

As a nonprofit organization, we are filling gaps in recycling and reuse in the region and offering lots of reuse items to the community. We also answer a lot of questions about curbside recycling and take all plastics that aren't accepted through curbside programs.

This presentation will introduce participants to ESRI's Survey123, which is a geospatial platform within ArcGIS Online used to collect authentic geospatial data. The presenter will share student-collected sound intensity data and weather information collected during the "Great North American Total Solar Eclipse of 2024." Survey123 is an excellent platform for engaging students in project-based STEAM lessons across many disciplines.

Join this session to earn your Adobe Creative Educator Level 1 badge! Learn how to integrate Adobe's creative tools into your teaching practice through hands-on activities. You'll discover techniques to inspire creativity and enhance student engagement. By the end of the session, you'll have completed the requirements for the badge, validating your proficiency in digital creativity. Whether you're a seasoned educator or new to Adobe tools, this session offers valuable skills to elevate your teaching. Join us and become an Adobe Creative Educator!

​Assignments, the learning activities that students are asked to complete, represent one of the most heavily used features of the Canvas learning management system (LMS). An assignment in the LMS could instruct a student to submit a practice quiz, watch a video, fill out a worksheet, reflect on their personal goals, and more, but there is minimal guidance for how to select and implement these activities. How do we know whether our assignments are effective? In this session, you'll be introduced to Terracotta, a free plugin to the Canvas LMS that makes it possible to do experimental research on LMS assignments, so that teachers can discover what works for their students.  

The utilization of math manipulatives in the primary classroom is paramount for fostering a deep and meaningful understanding of mathematical concepts among young learners. These hands-on, tangible objects serve as powerful tools that transform abstract ideas into concrete, real-world experiences. By incorporating manipulatives such as counters, blocks, geometric shapes, and measuring tools, educators create interactive learning environments that cater to diverse learning styles. Manipulatives provide students with a tactile and visual representation of mathematical principles, allowing them to explore, manipulate, and internalize abstract ideas in a tangible way. This kinesthetic engagement not only enhances comprehension but also promotes critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a sense of mathematical curiosity. Moreover, math manipulatives offer a bridge between the theoretical and the practical, supporting the transition from concrete to abstract thinking as students progress in their mathematical journey. In essence, the importance of math manipulatives in the primary classroom lies in their ability to make mathematics accessible, enjoyable, and, most importantly, memorable for young minds.

Harness the power of literature in primary math education for a rich, engaging experience. By integrating carefully selected picture books, stories, and poems, educators bring abstract math concepts to life. Literature transforms numbers into relatable, everyday scenarios, fostering math skills and a love for reading. This interdisciplinary approach supports math skills, literacy, critical thinking, and a lifelong appreciation for learning

WARNING: Fun, engaging, hands-on PD session! Empowered focuses on helping you create an exciting, individualized classroom where learning is not just for the moment but for a lifetime. Students learn to think critically and build skills to create value for themselves and others with our Foundational Principles of success. Leave this session with activities to help establish your classroom culture and impact your classroom immediately!

Let’s put Math in Motion! We will explore middle grades math concepts, algebra and geometry through movement. Technology will be provided in this hands on sessions to explore free activities that develop & investigate the relationship between position, rate of change, time, speed, and velocity and more.